The secret of how Drax went from the loveable sociopath “Destroyer” we all know and love to a pacifist struggling with his violent tendencies is finally revealed in a quiet, character building story that, imo, really hits its mark.

What You Need to Know:

The Guardians of the Galaxy (Star Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket, Baby Groot and Gamora) have teamed up for one last “score”: to steal the Infity Stone known as the Soul Gem from

What Just Happened?

As Drax meditates, hoping to find peace, beside his GOTG partner, Gamora, she offers a sympathetic ear to her friend. Drax reveals a past run in he had with a slaver colony. Drax, believing that he was doing the “right thing” and freeing the slaves, makes easy work of slaughtering the slavers.

Yet, as he comes to the ruler of the group, the slaves beg him not to kill their master.

Drax, believing himself to be making the slaves free men, beheads the monster as he taunts him, daring him to do kill him. But, unbeknownst to Drax, the slaves in begging for their master’s life were, in fact, begging for their own lives. The sadist had branded each of his slaves with a poison that became lethal when his heartbeat stopped.

In his efforts to free these slaves, Drax inadvertently had sent them to their ultimate demise. It’s a very poignant, stinging moment as Drax realizes what he has done by rushing fool heartedly to action.

And so, Drax has sworn off violence, although he finds fighting his baser instincts very difficult.

Gamora offers comfort to her friend and teammate, assuring him that he is not at fault. Would he rather live as a slave or die as a free man? She suggests that he, possibly, too would benefit from finding the soul gem, which she believes still holds captive parts of their very souls from their time trapped within.

Final Thought:

To say this book is influenced by the movies is a gross understatement. But, that’s just fine by me! While I was familiar with the comic book and the characters by not much more than name, it really was the movie that made me fall in love with these quirky misfits and their epic friendships.

Gerry Duggan is really getting his sea legs as a writer as the series continues, he’s really getting a grasp of these characters and bringing his own nuances to each of them while staying true to the characters. His unique take on Drax is really fun, and his take on Gamora is far more complex than just “the most dangerous woman in the universe”. I became a big fan of Duggan during his run on Uncanny Avengers,, a book that never really gelled for me until he took it on. He brought a family feel that I am really enjoying here, as well.

The art has a very sandy texture, perhaps not my favorite but for this particular story it works.